Actuating mechanism.



C. C. TOMKINSON.

ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPUCATION- FILED AUG. 20. 1911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

c. c. TOMKINSON.

ACTUATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION men AUG. 20. 191:.

1,258,379. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"UNI ED STATES PATENT ormon.

CHARLES C. TOMKINSON, OF. IPLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 J. EDWARD OGDEN, OF MOUNTAINVILLE, NEW YORK.

AGTUATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed August 20, 1917. Serial No. 187,141.

51 b aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (hnumns C. TOMKIN son, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Plaiufield, Union county, and State of New Jersey, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Actuating Mechanism, 0:]? which the fol lowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, liorn1- ing a part thereof.

My invention relates to actuating mecha nism and its object is to provide a simple device by means of which a driven clenrlent such for example a shaft, may be driven by a motor or moved by hand without the possibility of either the motor of the hand operated device interfering with each other.

Another object is to provide a manually operated auxiliary mechanism for a motor driven member which may be used whenever the motor cannot be used and to make such auxiliary mechanism reversible.

Another object is to so construct and on range the parts that either the motor or the hand-0peratcd device inoperative when the other can be used. i

A still further object is to so construct and arrange an auxiliary hand-operated device in such a manner that it will assume automatically such a condition that when not in use it will. not interfere with other means for actuating the driven member.

Another and more specific object oi the invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism. p

In order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I will now proceed to de scribe the same in the following specification, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation oi? a wheeled frame with driving mecliianisnr therefor which is made according to and embodies my invention. a

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in. section and drawn on a larger scale, of apart of the driving mechanism shown in the preceding figures. p

Fig. 4- is an end elevation ol :1 detail oil: construction, this figure illustrating a holding bracket.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation on a still larger scale, of the improved ratchet mechanism, certainparts being shown insection.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the rzuvchet mechanism Like characters oi? reference dcsignah: cor res 'ionding parts in all the figures.

10 designates a frame upon which the (lillerent parts 01'' the apparatus are supported. 11L designates wheels on which the frame reels and 12 tracks for the wheels. Each pair 031. wheels is ai'llxed to a journal 13 oneach of which is a worm gear 14;, and worms 15 on a shaft 16 mesh with these worn-1 gears so that when. shaft 16 is rotated in one direction or the other, the wheels 11 will be rotated and the whole apparatus moved to the left or to the right on the tracks 12. 17 is a part of the :l'rame. 10

which forms an operators platform.

20 is a reversible electric motor mounted on the frame 10. 21 is a magnetic brake and 22 a controller for the motor near the op erators platform 17. The end of the motor shaft 23 is square and the socket 41 of a pinion l2 fits over it. This pinion transmits the rotation of the motor at a reduced rate to the shaft 16 through a train of gears 24;, one oil? which 25 is ailixed to the shaft 16. By means oi. this arrangement the motor may be used to move the apparatus on the track in either direction.

26 is a bracket for holding the hand lever 41-0 on the end of which. 1s pinion 4:2 111 almoment with the motor shaft. This forms a bearing, the cap oit which, designated by 27 1S pivoted at 28 and has a part 29 which overlaps the end of the hand lever and prevents the latter from moving oil :ltrom the end of the motor shaft.

shank 34:. This in Fig. 5 passes through a hole 38 in the spring guide. 38* is another hole in the spring guide for the reception of the part 37 when the spring is in another position, The upper end 39 of ratchet arm 31 is square in cross section and of the same dimensions as the square end 23 of the motor shaft.

40 is a hand lever, one end of which is constructed to form the socket 41 which fits over the end 23 of the motor shaft or over the end 39 of the ratchet arm. The end of this hand lever which surrounds the socket is enlarged as shown and gear teeth are made in it to form the pinion 42.

The operation of driving the mechanism by the motor is obvious and needs no specific description. If no motive power is available or if for any other reason the motor cannot be used, the hand lever 10 is removed from the end of the motor shaft andput onto the end of the ratchet arm. Removing this member from the motor shaft completely disconnects the motor from shaft 16.

The socket end of the hand lever comes in contact with the bend 36 of the sprin 38 and holds it against pawl 32. By oscillating the hand lever the ratchet wheel 30 and shaft 16 will be rotated in one direction to traverse the whole apparatus. If it is desired to traverse the apparatus in the other direction, the hand lever is removed, the spring raised intothe position indicated by broken lines at 33 in Fig. 5 in which po sition the end of the part 3 is above the spring guide 35, so that the spring may be moved, the weight of the ratchet arm 31 tends/to make the latter swing into a vertically downward position. The spring fits loosely in the spring guide so that when the ratchet arm is in its inverted position the spring will drop down out of engagement with the pawl, thus automatically disconnecting the ratchet mechanism from the shaft 16. I

Obviously, this invention is applicable t other mechanisms than that shown and described and I do not intend to limit myself to any specific form or construction or ap plication; for example, it is within the scope of this invention tohave the completion of the hand operated device, disconnect the motor circuit. In fact, I intend no limitations other than those imposed by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shaft, a. ratchet wheel thereon, a ratchet arm, rotatable about said shaft. a pawl pivoted on said arm, a spring slidably supported on said. arm and arranged when in one position to press the pawl into ongagement with the ratchet Wheel, and

about its pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel on either side of its pivot, a spring arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means on said arm for holding the spring in different positions to press against one side or the other of the pawl.

3. A shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon, a'

ratchet arm rotatable about said shaft, a pawl pivoted on said arm and movable about its pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel on either side of its pivot, a spring arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, means on said arm for holding the spring 'in different positions to press against one side or the other of the pawl, and a hand-lever arranged to be placed on the ratchet arm and to maintain the spring in one of its positions when in place.

4:. A shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon, a ratchet arm rotatable about said. shaft, a pawl pivoted on said arm and movable about its pivot into engagement with. the ratchet wheel on either side of it pivot, a spring arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, said spring having two parallel parts, a spring guide on said arm provided with a central opening for one of the parts ofthe spring and two side openings for selectively engaging the other part of the spring, where by the spring is held in two different positions to press against one side or the other of the pawl.

5. A shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon, a

ratchet arm rotatable about said shaft, a

pawl pivoted on said arm and movable about its pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel on either side of its pivot, a sprmg arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, said spring having two parallel parts joined by a bend, a spring guide on said arm provided with a. central opening for one of the parts of the spring and two side openings for selectively engaging the other part of the spring, whereby the spring is held in two difierent positions to press against one side or the other of the pawl, and a hand-lever arranged to be placed on the ratchetarm and to engage the bend of the spring to maintain the spring in one or the other of its positions when in place.

6. A shaft, a ratchet wheel thereon, a

ratchet arm rotatable about said shaft, a pawl pivoted on'said arm and movable about its pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel on either side of its pivot, a spring arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, and means on said arm for holding the spring in different positions to engage against one side or the other of the pawl, said spring being radially slidable in the holding means away from the pawl when the ratchet arm rotates to an invertedposition.

7. A shaft, a ratchet wheel. thereon, a ratchet arm rotatable about said shaft a pawl pivoted on said arm and movable about its pivot into engagement with the ratchet wheel on either side of its pivot, a spring arranged to press the pawl into engagement with the ratchet wheel, said spring having two parallel parts, a spring guide on said arm provided with a central opening for one of the parts of the spring and two side openings for selectively engaging the other part of the spring. where by the spring is held in two different positions to press against one side or the other of the pawl, said spring being radially slidable in the spring guide away from the pawl when the ratchet arm rotates to an inverted position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17 day of August, 1917.

CHARLES C. TOMKINSON. Witnesses: I. B. MOORE,

WILLIAM G. DALTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

